Glenn College Policy Brief

In April, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs released the long awaited after action review of the City of Columbus response to summer 2020 protests.  Dean Trevor Brown and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Carter Stewart led the investigative team. In this episode of Policy Brief, Brown and Stewart discuss findings from the report including schisms that existed between the community, police and city leadership, as well as report recommendations for tactical solutions, reconciliation and policy changes to help the city prepare for and respond to future protests.

Guest: Mike McCurry, Distinguished Professor of Public Theology, Wesley Theological Seminary, and former White House press secretary From a career as a press secretary for Senator Glenn’s presidential campaign, President Bill Clinton and other political entities, Mike McCurry sees the significance — and current downfall — of the public’s trust in both our elected officials and the news media. McCurry and Dean Trevor Brown discuss factors for the mistrust, including the effects of social media, divisive politics and the struggling local media industry. McCurry offers solutions in the form of educating the public about public policy, restructuring our definition of public information and engaging other credible and reliable institutions, such as faith organizations, in real, honest dialogue about critical issues.

Lori Garver, CEO of Earthrise Alliance and former deputy administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, believes that since the beginning of humanity, exploration was necessary for human survival. Now, as she leads a nonprofit organization which uses space technology to mitigate the effects of climate change, she believes space exploration is increasingly essential for humans to survive on Earth and beyond. Tune in for this conversation as Garver talks with Dean Trevor Brown about her career working with NASA and Senator John Glenn, the importance of private sector space technology innovation, and what’s next in space travel.

Lobbying is an important part of the political process, but it often has a negative connotation. Kellie Adesina, a graduate of The Ohio State University Mortiz College of Law, joins Dean Brown to discuss the ways lobbyists advocate for people and businesses while helping Congress draft quality legislation. She shares her experience influencing food and agriculture legislation for Bayer in areas like biotechnology, nutrition and climate change, explaining Bayer’s stake in these issues and how her team works to drive change. In closing, Kellie introduces Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture, a new organization that promotes representation of Black policy professionals in the food and agriculture sector, where BIPOC voices have been historically underrepresented.   

Guest: Drew Willison, MPA ’90, Former Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate With over 2,000 officers sworn to protect and defend the U.S. Capitol, it is hard to imagine the building could be overrun by America’s own citizens. John Glenn College of Public Affairs alumnus, Drew Willison, joins Dean Trevor Brown in the latest edition of Policy Brief to discuss the duties of the sergeant at arms in safeguarding and securing the Senate and what may have caused the lack of preparation on January 6. Willison shares his expertise on the inside workings of the Senate, observations from the insurrection and thoughts about what should happen next.

Policy Brief's January guest is Tom Wheeler, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Wheeler will discuss the important work that goes into serving on a presidential transition team from his experience serving on the Obama-Biden Transition in 2008-09.

This week, we take a break from our normal Policy Brief episodes to celebrate service. The Glenn College is proud to present these three remarkable public-sector professionals with our alumni awards.

Guest: Herb Asher, distinguished adjunct professor, John Glenn College of Public Affairs and professor emeritus, The Ohio State University Department of Political Science.  Brown and Asher’s talk follows the first presidential debate to address what’s on the mind of American voters including the economy, race, civil society and the pandemic response. The two discuss 2020 election security concerns and the mechanisms of the Ohio electorate. Hear predictions on what the early returns will reflect and learn how to navigate polls as a consumer during this historic time.    

Guest: Christie Angel, president and CEO, YWCABrown and Angel talk about how COVID-19 and the George Floyd tragedy renewed the social justice arm of her organization. The discussion details the historic workings of the Columbus YWCA and how it’s continuing its mission during these turbulent times. Angel shares ways they are turning social equity conversations into calls to action and how she will measure the impact of the YWCA in their charge to eradicate systemic inequity. 

Host: Dean Trevor Brown, John Glenn College of Public Affairs  Guest: Caroline Wagner, Glenn College associate professor, Milton and Roslyn Wolf Chair in International Affairs Brown and Wagner dive into global research activity between the superpowers of science before and during the pandemic. The discussion details how China handled sharing news about the coronavirus outbreak within scientific communities and the resulting changes to global research policy and knowledge sharing. Wagner addresses historic, current and future scientific cooperation as it relates to innovation in areas like immunology, virology and health care. The conversation concludes with several ideas for the U.S. to promote openness and collaboration moving forward.       

Guest: Wayne Turnage, deputy mayor, District of Columbia Health and Human Services and director, District of Columbia Department of Health Care FinanceTurnage coordinates a comprehensive system of benefits, goods and services to ensure that children, youth and adults can lead healthy, meaningful and productive lives. Learn about the ways the pandemic impacts their clients and how COVID-19 rule changes are leading to improvements of the service roadmap.

Known for its shell beaches and wildlife refuges, tourist dependent Sanibel Island, Florida is feeling the impacts of COVID-19. Trevor Brown talks with City Manager Judie Zimomra about the unique challenges the incorporated island city is facing. Learn from Judie about the key priorities and responses this comprehensive land use community has executed during the pandemic.

How has COVID-19 effected the workforce world in Central Ohio? Lisa Patt-McDaniel, CEO of Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio discusses early moves her organization, and its partnering agencies, made to address unemployment issues related to the pandemic. 

Will Columbus need to tap into a rainy day fund to make up budget shortfalls amid the pandemic?  Columbus City Auditor Megan Kilgore joins Dean Brown to discuss how the city is positioned financially to weather COVID-19, what revenue adjustments are on the horizon, and the data available to help city leaders and policymakers reach the most equitable and longterm solutions.

Kim Murnieks, director of Ohio's Office of Budget and Management discusses Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and what the outlook is for the state's budget.

Shortly after the first Policy Brief with Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin was recorded, protests began in Columbus and the United States in response to the killing of George Floyd. In Part 2 of Policy Brief with President Hardin, he discusses what needs to happen in Columbus and the nation to address systemic racism.

In Policy Brief, Part 1 with Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, he explains the city of Columbus' responses to COVID-19 and what the plans are for getting Columbus opened for business. This discussion took place a few weeks before protests began in Columbus and the United States in response to the killing of George Floyd.

Brian Perera, Associate Vice President for State Relations in the Office of Government Affairs at The Ohio State University, talks with Dean Trevor Brown about the budgeting process for the state of Ohio and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the state budget in the future.

Paolo DeMaria, Ohio’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, discusses the impact COVID-19 has had on Ohio's school systems and issues and challenges the systems face in the fall.

Dr. Ned Hill, professor of Economic Development in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and in Knowlton College of Architecture’s section on City and Regional Planning, discussed the economic implication of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tracy Najera, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund - Ohio, talks about the effects of COVID-19 on families.

Policy Brief with Jen Miller, Executive Director, Ohio League of Women Voters. Miller discusses the postponement of Ohio's primary election due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting by mail, and what is needed to have a successful fall election. 

Lt. Col. Scott is a strategist at the United States Southern Command. He discusses the state of national security in the time of a pandemic.